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Posted 10/4/2006 5:30 AM (GMT -6)

Hey, I'm 15yo and my names audrey im from australia.

I've never talked to anyone else with cf before, i was so excited when i found this site. So i just wanted to say hi, its so good to read about people who have the same problems as me.

Ever since high school started i've become really anxious and depressed about my cf, and i havent been able to tell my classmates in case they react the wrong way, i want them to know but i dont want them to know (if you know what i mean). I'm surprised no one has asked me why I have a gross sounding cough all the time. I think they should know but I'm not sure how to tell them and im also scared people will start avoiding me because they think they could catch something, how should i go about telling them?

Posted 10/4/2006 7:17 AM (GMT -6)
Just dropping by to say Hello and welcome to Healing Well Audrey!

High School can be an emotional adjustment, hang in there :-) ! 

Posted 10/4/2006 10:54 AM (GMT -6)
Dear Audrey, I go through the same thing but I'm in college! All I can tell you is to be perfectly honest with the people around you. You might be suprised at how supportive they are! :) Good luck!
Posted 10/4/2006 12:08 PM (GMT -6)
I agree with collegekid...just be honest. And about the ppl avoiding you cuz they might catch something thing...my friends don't all kno abt my cf, but I have told them the constant cough I have is not contagious...it helps a lot. I'm 16 (almost 17!) and i also started getting really depressed about my cf. Mostly because I lost most of my friends for four yrs, and my bf and best frien of three yrs. But i'm on the same page as you..I've neva been allowed to talk to another cfer b4. At my clinic, wheneva I have the same appt as someone else, we were always kept across the room from each other, getting scolded for being to close or something. While it makes a lot of sense...it's sooo annoying!!! Glad to meet u!
Posted 10/4/2006 1:27 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Audz, I would do whatever you feel comfortable with. If you think that you should tell your friends go ahead, but you have to know they might take it weird and not be your friend any more. If this happens then you know that their really not your friend. I have had many people come and go in my life and I don't let it get me down. There are people who will stick with you no matter what and those who won't. Always remember everyone comes to you for a reason, we may not know what it is, but if you are honest with yourself and love who you are everything works out. try not to worry about it, stay close to the ones who will never leave you. I know this is easier said then done but trust me i'm 20 years old have been through highschool and i'm in my third year of college. Hope this helps if you need to talk anymore you can email me at ksantangleo86@patmedia.net
Kaitlyn
Posted 10/5/2006 3:45 PM (GMT -6)
I may be new here, but I have had similar feelings at more than one time in my life. I grew up in a small town so everyone knew about my CF and maybe because I have led a relatively normal life I was able to fit in pretty well. But once I got into to college I started to question why I was working so hard on my future when I know I won't live a full life like everyone else around me. I got really depressed and I got down on myself. But I guess I realized that if my life is going to be short I might as well live it up, and if other people can't accept the fact that I have CF then screw them, there's plenty of other people out there to be friends with.

Posted 11/11/2006 10:08 PM (GMT -6)
hey Audrey!

I come from a small town in New Hampshire, where I am the only one to go through both my elementary school and my highschool with CF, So I know what you mean about not being able to talk to many people with CF. 

I have a group of probably 10 people that I'm really close with, and most of them know a pretty lot about CF, but they're basically the only ones who know the details.  Many people in my school know that I have CF or at least cough alot, but I have always been very open about my CF, because my philosophy is, that my close friends already know all about it, so it doesn't really phase them to be honest, and if people have a question about why I'm coughing so much or something like that, then ask me, if you don't want to ask then stop staring. lol.

I also agree with lancestuart02 and think that if people can't accept me, with my CF (since it's obviously a big part of me) then i don't need them in my life. My friends and boyfriend have always been very supportive of me and the CF.  Heck! They come and visit me while I'm in the hospital, even if it means that they have to wear masks whenever they leave my hospital room, and they even go outside with me (If I'm in a restaurant) to have a coughing fit.  At first it's a bit embarassing but then they just get used to it I guess, and it doesn't bother them at all.  They know that that is just how I am.

Hope that things work out for you!

Posted 11/19/2006 7:02 PM (GMT -6)
hey audrey!
i don't have cf, but my boyfriend does. he s 23, and he s only just started telling people about it. because he didn't tell anyone, being open was a big issue for him, but now he s told everyone and it makes him feel more comfortable knowing that he doesn't have this big secret. being 15 is hard, and some of your friends might take a while to understand, but i think its better to be open, especially in the long run. hope it all works out!
xxx
Posted 2/15/2007 12:54 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Audrey, my advice is you can tell people that you have CF but be careful not to make CF your identity. You want to make sure people know you for other reasons and not as "the girl who has CF". When I was in school (about 10 yrs ago) everyone knew that I had CF because I coughed all the time but I tried to make up for it and distinguish myself with my sense of humor and personality. If you allow CF to become your identity it will make it easier for you to succumb to it and all that it entails and people will treat you like you are sick and dying when in reality you arent, you are living and full of life and you need to be surrounded by people who are living as well!! Life is a little harder when you have any sort of dis-ease but hard work has its rewards and you have a chance to be an example to other people who are living with a set-back by living as though you are living and not living as though you are dying!
Posted 2/15/2007 4:33 PM (GMT -6)
Hi,

Well I'm 14 on Sunday (YES!) and have just begun to realize what it means to have CF, the constant cough has just started to happen to me! I haven't told my parents that I'm on this forum yet because I know that they will react in the wrong way. Something recently happened though, an old friend of mine who has left the school told her mum about me and then the mum went and started questioning my dad! He was sooo furious and said that the school would kick me out, but they cant do that! They don't kick people with asthma out and there are heaps of deaf girls, a blind girl and lots of others at the school. Most of my friends support me and are happy that I'm talking on this forum with people who understand what I'm going through. I am starting to feel more depressed, my sis is calling me an emo which is kinda insulting but semi true (without the wrist slashing part,cos thats just wrong). I should be able to tell who I want about my CF and here is my dad (who has NEVER is his whole life been to one of my appointments) telling me not to tell people. It's kind of like one of those massive secrets that you can't help but tell to people who you absolutely trust. I also don't know if I should tell my BF, does he have the right to know? I'm not really sure how he'll take it......or if he'll tell his parents who'll tell my parents and so on. Once our neighbor knew and my parents were like telling her to be quiet, but shouldn't it really be my decision who knows and who doesn't. It's not my parents who have it, it's me and my life.
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